Boiler cleaner



June 10, 1930. I N. L. SNOW 1,762,312

BOILER CLEANER Filed Jan. 15, 1923 affoznu s Patented June 10, 1930 v UNITED STATES PATENT FICE NORMAN I. SNOW, OF DETROIT, MIGI-IlGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DIAIVION D POWER SPECIALTY CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 013 MICHIGAN BOILER CLEANER Application filed January 15, 1923. Serial No. 612,864.

This invention relates to boiler cleaners and relates more particularly to boiler cleaners in which a discharge of steam is utilized to eifect cleaning. 1

1 Itis the object of the invention to positively insure the removal of all water of condensation from the supply pipe leading to a soot blower before opening of the main supply valve controlling said pipe. It is more specifically the object of the invention to positively require the admission to the supply pipe of a blower unit, of a sufficient amount of steam to thoroughly heat said pipe prior to opening of the main valve, 15' and at the same time to insure opening of a drain valve communicating with the supply pipe through which any accumulation of moisture will be drawn oil".

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a steam supply pipe for a soot blower equipped with control means in accordance with the invention; 1 Figure 2 is a view of the same in end eleva- 26 tion, and t Figure 2 is a detail sectional'view of a drain valve shown in Figure 1. In these views'the reference characters 1 2 and 3 designate successive portions of a So steam supply pipe leading to one or more blower units. At the juncture of the sections 1 and 2 there is provided a main line valve 4 having the screw threaded stem 5 which shifts outwardly from the valve casing to unseat said valve. 6 is a chain wheel carried by said stem for controlling the valve. The pipe 2 extends preferably vertically downward from the valve 4: andbelow said pipe in alignment therewith is arranged a settling pipe 7 communicating with the fitting 8 connecting the sections 2 and 3. 9 is alaterally extending drain pipe controlled by a: valve 10 and communicating with the lower end of the pipe 7 through a fitting 11. 12 is a by-pass controlled by avalve 13 and forming a connection betweenthe section 1 and the upper portion of thepipe 2 independent of the valve 4; The by-pass valve 13 and the drain valve 10 are providedwith vertical stems 14 and 15 which are terminally adjacent and are compelled toturn in unison by a pair of en- 4 meshed spur gears 16. A bracket arm 17 secured to the pipe 2 engages the stems 1 1 and 15 adjacentthe gears 16 to insure a spacing of said stems such as Wlll permit proper engagement of the gears. 18 is a hand wheel mount-- ed upon the lower portion of the stem 15 for effecting simultaneous rotation of the stems 14: and 15 whereby the valves 13 and 10 will be concurrently opened or closed.

Adjacentthe valve 4 a steam cylinder 19 is mounted fast upon the pipe 2 by means of a clamping bracket 20 and a piston 21 within a said cylinder is downwardly urged by a coiled spring 22 and 15 provided witha piston rod 23 extending upwardly beyond the cylin der to engage a latch member 24: intermediately pivoted upon an arm 25 upstanding from the cylinder. Said latch member, by means of a head 24, normally engages the chain wheel 6 restraining said chain wheel from axial outward movement and conse quently preventing opening of the main valve 4- 26 is a pipe for delivering steam beneath the piston 21 from the pipe 2, the capacity of the pipe 26 being regulable bymea-ns of a needle valve 26. 1 1

Considering now the operation of the invention as. so far-described, it is firstto be understood that the main valve 4: is normally locked in closed position by the member 24: and release of said member is adapted to a same timethereis admitted to the pipe 2 a predetermined flow of steam while an outlet is provided for any condensation that may have accumulated in any of the pipes controlled by thevalve a or which may form as said pipes areheated. The steam admitted to the pipes 2, 3 and 7 through the bypass 12 will find an escape by way of the valve 10 but since the latter valve has a capacity less by apredeterminedextent than that of the valve 13 a steam pressure will gradually build up within the pipes 2 and 3. The arrangement is such that a time interval will elapse sufficient to insure a thorough heating of the pipes 2 and 3 (and any communicating pipes) before the pressure in the pipe 2 is sufficiently built up to overcome the resistance of the coiled spring 22 and shift the piston 21 upwardly. When such an actuation of the piston has occurred the operator will close the valves 10 and 13 and then open the main valve 4 as has been hereinbefore explained. Thus the described mechanism positively insures a preheating of the supply piping leading from the main line valve 4 to a blower unit or units and further insures that such piping will be thoroughly drained before said main valve is opened. The valve 10 will be provided with a small by-pass opening 27 which will prevent any building up of pressure in the pipe 2 in case of leakage past either the main valve 4 or by-pass valve 13.

What I claim'as my invention is 1. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a steam supply pipe for a blower unit, and a valve controlling said pipe, of a positive lock for said valve and release means for said lock controlled by a building up of pressure in said pipe beyond said valve.

2. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a steam supply pipe for a blower unit, and a valve controlling said pipe, of apositive lock for said valve, and means for releasing said lock contingent in its operation upon admission of steam to said pipe beyond said valve.

3. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a supply pipe for a blower unit, and a valve controlling said pipe, of a lock for said valve, a valve controlling a drainage exit from said pipe, and release means for said lock contingent in its operation upon opening of said drainage valve. 4. In a boiler cleaner, a steam supply pipe for a blowerunit, a main valve controlling said pipe, and a common means controlling a restricted steam inlet to said pipe, and a drainage exit therefrom, said inlet and exit both being on the outlet side of said valve.

5. Ina boiler cleaner, a steam supply pipe for a blower unit, a main valve controlling said pipe, a bypass providing for a restricted flow of steam past said valve, a valve controlling the flow of steam through said by-pass, a valve controlling a drainage exit from said pipe, and means compelling opening of said drainage exit valve and said by-pass valve before said mainvalve is opened.

6. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a supply pipe for a blower unit, a valve controlling said pipje and a by-pass providing for the admission of steam to said supply pipe at a point beyond said valve, of a lock for said valve releasable under a predetermined pressure derived from said pipe beyond said valve, a valve controlling a drainage exit from said pipe beyond the first-mentioned valve, and a common means controlling said drainage valve and admission of steam to said pipe through said by-pass.

7. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a supply pipe for a blower unit, and a valve controlling the same, of a lock for said valve, release means for said valve operatingunder a pressure derived from said pipe beyond said valve, a by-pass connecting portions of said pipe in advance of and beyond said valve whereby said pressure may be built up in said pipe beyond said valve, and a valve controlling said by-pass.

8. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a supply pipe for a blower unit, and a valve controlling the same, of a lock for said valve, release means for said lock acting under a pressure derived from said pipe beyond said valve, a by-pass connecting portions of said pipe in advance of and beyond said valve whereby said pressure may be built up in said pipe beyond said valve, valves respectively controlling said bypass and a drainage exit from the portion of said pipe beyond the first-mentioned valve, and a common control means for said by-pass valve and drainagev valve.

9. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a supply pipe for a blower unit, and a main valve controlling the same, of a lock normally preventing actuation of said valve, a cylinder communicating with said pipe at a point beyond said valve, a piston'operating in said cylinder and effecting release of said lock upon establishment of a predetermined pressure in said pipe, a bye-pass connecting portions of said pipe in advance of and beyond the valve whereby a pressure may be built up in said pipe beyond said valve, a valve controlling'the drainage exit from said pipe, a valve controlling said by-pass, and a common control means for the by-pass valve and drain valve.

10. In a boiler cleaner, a steam supply pipe for a blower unit, a main control valve for said pipe and means forheating said supply pipe and draining the water from the same prior to the opening of said main control valve, said means including a valved auxiliary steam inlet for said supply pipe, a valved drainage outlet from said pipe, a connection between said valves, andmeans for operating said valves through said connection.

11. In a boiler cleaner, a steam supply pipe for a blower unit, a main control valve for said pipe and means for heating said supply pipe and draining the water from the same prior to the opening of saidacontrolvalve, said means including a valved auxiliary steam inlet for said supply pipe, a valved drainage outlet from said pipe, a mechanical connection between said valves, and means its for operating said valves through said mechanical connection.

12. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a cleaning fluid supply pipe for a cleaner unit, and a valve for controlling the passage of fluid through said pipe, of a drainage exit from said pipe, a valve controlling said drainage exit, and means positively preventing the operation of the fluid supply control valve until a predetermined time after the operation of said drainage valve.

13. In a boiler cleaner, a steam supply pipe for a blower unit, a valve controlling said pipe, a by-pass providing for a restricted 0w of steam around said valve, means adapted to close said by-pass, positive look ing means engaging said control valve and means operable to prevent releasing of said locking means until said by-pass is opened.

l4. In a boiler cleaner, in combination a steam supply pipe for a blower unit, a valve controlling the passage of steam into said pipe, a lock for said valve, means for varying the pressure within said pipe when said valve is closed and means operable under a predetermined pressure within said pipe for releasing said valve locking means.

15. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a cleaning fluid supply pipe for a cleaner unit, and a valve for controlling the passage of fluid through said pipe, of a drainage exit from said pipe, a valve controlling said drainage exit, a lock arranged to prevent the operation of one of said valves, and means operable to release said look after the other of the said valves is operated.

16. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a cleaning fluid supply pipe for a cleaner unit and a valve for controlling the passage of fluid through said pipe, of a drainage exit from said pipe, a valve controlling said drainage exit, and means preventing the opening of one of said valves until the other is opened.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

NORMAN L. SNO'W. 

